Page 45 of Beautifully Reckless

How is it that I feel like I know him so well, even though I really don’t?

Nervous over the place I have to take myself back to, I start pacing at the foot of the bed, ignoring the way Lexi watches me like she’s trying to see inside my soul.

What I’m about to tell her will hurt her, because she loves me. Which is why she needs to know.

“For a couple of months I’d suspected I might be pregnant,” I begin, continuing to pace because it’s easier to watch the grey carpet at my feet as I walk than look at my best friend’s expression.

“I wasn’t sure how to confirm it. I couldn’t go to the doctor and risk my parents finding out. They never gave me much money, and Daniel was always around. I never had the opportunity to duck into a pharmacy and buy a test.”

Blowing out a breath, I risk a glance at Lexi to see her listening attentively.

“I had to steal a pregnancy test,” I admit and Lexi’s eyes widen.

“You stole something?”

Her shock pulls a smirk from me.

“Yes. From the supermarket. Mum sent me and Maggie in for a few things.

I sent Maggie off to get the milk… and then, I shoved it down the front of my shorts.”

“Oh. My. God. Abbey Delany stole something?”

I poke my tongue out at her, but then her smile falls. “That’s when you found out you were pregnant?”

“Yes. At home. I did the tests when I was meant to be showering. It’s literally the only time my parents gave me privacy. I only took one of the tests, and I didn’t even have to wait the full time forthe result. It was obvious pretty quickly. I mean, I was already getting a little bump by then.”

“Shit. So did you tell your parents or did they see you getting bigger?”

I scoff, shaking my head. “Nope. It was only a few weeks until I was due to leave for Nursing school in the city, so I just kept wearing the baggy clothes and was biding my time, but then somehow, Maggie found the test. She would’ve had to go through the rubbish to find it, but she did, and then she took it straight to my parents.”

My eyes dart to Ringo, his legs manspread and his forearms resting on his knees, silently taking in this part of the story I never shared with him.

“Anyway, we all know what happened that night.” I wave a hand in Ringo’s direction, and Lexi nods, even though her brows are pinched with worry.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

Oh yeah. I left out the part about how I got pregnant.

My teeth sink into my bottom lip as my heart starts pounding a nervous rhythm.

Just spit it out, Abbey.

I clear my throat.

“Any chance you were wondering why Donny Allen and his uncle came after me tonight?”

At that, Lexi straightens, frowning. “I assumed since Donny is mates with Daniel, he was helping him out.”

“That’s not why.” My voice is flat, and her brows hitch.

“Is… Donny the father of your baby?”

I glance nervously at Ringo and he gives me a reassuring nod.

“I’m not sure if Donny is the father. Or if Daniel is, or…”

“Or? Orwhat?” Lexi shoots up off the bed like she’s just been bitten by something. “What do youmean,or?”

---